Go Deeper

PERSPECTIVES

Christians and the Environment

By Jonathan Skinner
Special to ASSIST News Service

CBN.com - BATH, UK (ANS)
-- With the environment at the center of so many people’s
agendas these days, and with many in our society connecting in
with this, Christians need to have a well thought-out response.
What is a proper biblical conception of the Earth and all of creation?

The creation account in Genesis includes the refrain “and
God saw that it was good,” which indicates that creation
does not exist just for what humanity can get out of it, but has
value in God’s eyes. The Bible clearly tells us that we
have a responsibility to rule over creation in terms of tending
and caring for it. Genesis 1: 26 informs us: God said, “Let
us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over
the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over livestock,
over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along
the ground.” Later, the first humans are explicitly put
on earth “to work it and take care of it.” It is also
notable that the move from a state of harmony in creation to the
Fall is symbolized by an act of environmental disobedience.

Other parts of Scripture build on this foundation. The first
covenant in Genesis is made by God to Noah, his descendants and
also to “every living creature on earth.” Creation
is included in the covenant. Creation care is part of the teaching
from God in the Torah, where, for example, every seventh year
the land was allowed to rest, not only to allow the poor to glean
from the fields but also to let the land rest from production.
The Psalms add to the picture of a proper relationship between
God, humanity and the rest of creation. Psalm 24 opens with the
ascription, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything
in it.” Here is a powerful affirmation that the earth belongs
to God rather than humankind.

The centrality of Christ in creation is made clear in the New
Testament, where John’s Gospel, reflecting the opening words
of Genesis, reveals that not only God the Father, but also the
Word was present at the beginning of creation. Jesus revealed
his mastery of creation by calming the storm on Galilee. Indeed,
in the face of today’s various claims for lordship, not
only for Mother Earth, but also from a whole plethora of Pagan
gods and spirits, we must contend for the absolute claim of Jesus
Christ to be Lord of all, including all creation. The New Testament
reveals that, “He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created
by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things
hold together.”

More than all this, the biblical perspective on our planet does
not conclude with it being destroyed, but after this destruction
a new heaven and a new earth being brought into being. It is true
that our present creation will be destroyed by fire, but it is
also true that a new earth will be established. God will re-establish
his physical creation, including the planet earth – we are
to be good stewards now, but realistically recognizing that the
Fall of humanity will work itself out in, first, the ongoing damage
of creation and finally, its destruction. In any biblical perspective
on our planet, the effect of humanity’s rebellion and Fall
must be taken seriously. Not only will fallen human beings tend
to misuse and abuse God’s gift of our environment, but also
it needs to be remembered that our environment is under the curse
of God. Although this is the effect of the Fall, we are not to
lose hope, for the present glories of creation will appear pale
in contrast to what will yet be revealed when creation is re-established.
The New Testament puts this in these words: “the whole creation
has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the
present time.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as
sons, the redemption of our bodies.” The final future for
our recreated planet is glorious: “The creation awaits in
eager expectation for the for the sons of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own
choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that
the creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought
into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

In contrast to Materialism, Paganism, and in particular the worship
of Mother Earth, which is so prevalent today, the Bible has a
full, clear and realistic view of our planet. It was created good
and reflects something of the glory of God. We are given a mandate
to explore and care for this creation. The Fall of humanity has
damaged and cursed this world, and yet we are still called to
respect it and protect it. Nevertheless, when the whole world
is judged, it will be destroyed. But this is not the end: God
will bring in to being a new heaven and a new earth – it
will all be reborn and redeemed. Our planet is to be honored because
it reflects something of our maker and also because we are commanded
to be responsible stewards. However, rightly honoring it is very
different from worshipping it. To worship the creation but forget
the creator is an utter travesty.

Jonathan Skinner is a minister of Widcombe Baptist Church, Bath,
UK, as well as being a broadcaster and author of the best selling
MTL – More to Life. He can be contacted by e-mail at jonathanskinner@yahoo.co.uk

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